Goaltenders and Other Collegians Go Early to NHL

The exodus of NCAA Division I players with remaining college eligibility to the National Hockey League has intensified following this year's NCAA Regionals.

Junior goaltender Joey Daccord (Arizona State) became the first-ever Sun Devil to sign an NHL contract when he inked a deal with the Ottawa Senators, who drafted him in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft. The North Andover, Mass. native went 21-13-1 this past season and was among the national leaders in goals-against average (2.35), save percentage (.926), saves (1,030), and shutouts (seven). He almost backstopped the Sun Devils past Quinnipiac in their NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal meeting on Saturday, making 36 saves in a 2-1 loss in ASU's NCAA Tournament debut.

Also signing out of the Midwest Regional was junior netminder Ryan Bednard (Bowling Green), who closed out his college career with 40 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss to defending NCAA champion Minnesota Duluth on Saturday. He signed with the Florida Panthers, who selected him in the 7th round of the 2015 NHL Draft. Bednard, from Macomb, Mich., finished 20-8-4 this season (1.77, .927, 4 ShO) in backstopping the Falcons to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 29 years.

The third NCAA Division I goaltender to go pro was junior Jake Kielly (Clarkson), who signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent. The Eden Prairie, Minn. native fashioned a 26-11-2 mark this season (1.91, .929, 5 ShO) in guiding the Golden Knights to the ECAC Hockey League's Whitelaw Cup as playoff champions. His career finale came in a 3-2 overtime loss to Notre Dame in a Northeast Regional semifinal on Friday, where he made 35 saves.

Sophomore goaltender Cayden Primeau (Northeastern) has joined the Montreal Canadiens, who tabbed him in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Draft. The Voorhees, N.J. native and son of former NHL forward Keith Primeau went 25-10-1 (2.09, .933, 4 ShO) this season with the Huskies, guiding them to both the Beanpot and Hockey East tournament crowns. He made 14 stops in his final NCAA game on Saturday, a 5-1 loss to Cornell in an East Regional semifinal.

Skaters with collegiate eligibility remaining who recently signed pro contracts include: junior forward Nico Sturm (Clarkson) with the Minnesota Wild; junior defenseman Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac) with Vancouver; freshman forward Oliver Wahlstrom (Boston College) with the New York Islanders; junior defenseman Andrew Peeke (Notre Dame) with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and; sophomore center Shane Bowers (Boston University) with the Colorado Avalanche.